Cal Crutchlow waiting on Ducati contract

Cal Crutchlow admits he is unlikely to sign a two-year deal to join Ducati’s factory MotoGP squad in 2013 during this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Mugello.

The British rider was expected to agree a deal to leave the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad at the end of 2012 in Mugello.

That was when Ducati wanted Crutchlow to confirm whether he will accept their offer to ride a factory Desmosedici in 2013 and ’14.

But Crutchlow confirmed in Mugello today that he had still not received a written contract to look at with his management.

Audi’s on-going takeover of Ducati was rumoured to be one reason why the Bologna factory has not yet sent a formal proposal to Crutchlow, despite the former World Supersport champion suggesting terms were agreed some time again.

Crutchlow wouldn’t elaborate on the reasons for the delay but he told MCN: “Talks are still on-going and that’s it. It is not a hold up from our side so read into that what you want.

"As far as I am concerned we can’t do anything different and we are waiting. It is a situation that I don’t print my own contract. They print it and then send it so obviously nothing has been sent. We have to wait and I am still talking to them but we are waiting for them.

"It is their decision. Everything is discussed but at the minute we don’t have any paperwork. I don’t have a contract so I can’t do anything. Everything else was done quite some time ago but at the moment there is a bit of a hold up.”

Crutchlow said he will hold further talks with senior Yamaha management in Mugello about his future but his hopes of securing a factory YZR-M1 next to Jorge Lorenzo appear slim at best.

Yamaha is understood to be close to signing a new deal with Texan Ben Spies, which could even be announced this weekend in Mugello, if not at his home race in Laguna Seca later this month.